SUBTERFUGE Throne of Shadows

From the ice cliffs of Zarasha to the burning dunes of Taloré, the might of King Kael Aruzi stretched over fifty-seven kingdoms, and every king bent their knee to him. His name was spoken in awe. His presence was like a storm. He was handsome and merciless-from the stars-for one of dominion.

Kael was seven feet tall, his voice could break silence, and his fists could end wars. No man was more powerful than he, and no force is bigger than his army. No woman could ever have him except, an orphaned one.

She hailed from the Vale of Ellah, famous for honey-skinned girls and silent rivers. Seraya was not merely beautiful, she was entrancing.

Her eyes were full of enigmatic power, her voice could easily restrain the angriest person, and her figure resembled a work of art from the most famous sculptors. She became his queen, the most precious jewel of his house. However, five years had gone by and she was still childless. Kael's advisers were not in a mood to sit still.

They became the focus of the oracles' whispered speculations. The kings of the vassal lands were whispering behind their veils. "A king with no heir invites war," they said. Therefore, he got married again. Later more. Until he had five wives.The second wife, Lina, was furious and loud-mouthed. The third, Velira, was of noble descent.

The fourth, Rhana, was charming and crafty. Eshara, the fifth, was the youngest and the most dangerous. They all have given him two daughters each, total being 8. Gorgeous girls with their mothers' charm. Still, the son was missing. Besides that even though Kael tried hard, he loved Seraya most. Only she could appease his anger.

No one else but her could speak to him without fear. Thus, she became an enemy.The fifth wife, Eshara, could not accept the fact. Like Seraya, she had a pretty face, was full of wits, and very seductive and wild. She understood Seraya's quiet smile as an attack against her, the grace of it as a joke. So, she decided to get rid of her.One night, as the royal court gathered for the Feast of Moons, Eshara whispered to Lina, the second wife, and Rhana, the fourth. They were still rivals but the feeling of jealousy is stronger than blood relation, isn't it? They agreed that today will be the day Seraya falls. Eshara'sservant confiscated a small amount of powder and placed it in Seraya's wine.

While the feast was filled with laughter and music, Seraya was no longer able to keep up with the pace. Giddiness consigned her. Her fingers went numb.Take her to her chamber," Eshara said in a sweet tone. "The queen must rest." Lina, with her venomous silence, dispatched a loyal palace guard to sneak into Seraya's chamber after the drug took hold. She then turned to Rhana. "Go. Tell the king. "Let him catch her in the act."

When Kael's war general whispered a word in his ear, during his speech at the high table, he replied, "Your Majesty... there is something you must see. Now." Kael was at a loss as to whether he should indulge his curiosity or remain in ignorance. At the moment Kael stood up, the hall turned silent. None of the revelry sounds were heard, just the tapping of his boots on the marble as he rushed along the corridors of the palace, his cloak following him like a trail of fire.